The Word of God presents truth in principle; the Holy Spirit makes the personal applications.”
–H. Maurice Lednicky

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
–Theodore Roosevelt

I read, not too long ago, that when people go into a book store to purchase a Bible, they usually come out without purchasing one.  Goodness, what version should be purchased?  Fifty years ago the King James, or Authorized Version of the Bible was considered by many to be the only reliable translation. Choosing a Bible only was a question of selecting the binding and color.  Today, dozens of English translations are available.  How in the world does one decide which one is best?
Perhaps the best way to look at it is to recognize that no one translation is the best.  There can be no perfect translations, but there are a number that are very good.  The real questions are:  Which is best for my particular needs and/or who are you buying it for?  Do you want it for serious study, grammatically correct and with a good vocabulary, or do you want it for devotional or just to read it through?
I am sure that you have your favorite version, but I’ll pass along the ones I like.  I still like to read the King James on occasion, especially some of the poetic books.  This Bible is probably the most influential ever published and it had great influence upon the English language.  The reading level is now considered to be post-high school  There are a couple of problems with it:  There have been more manuscripts found since it was written, and much of the English language has changed since it was written.
The two I use most regularly are the Holman Christian Standard Bible and the New American Standard Bible.  First, the New American Standard Bible (NASB) is most identified as the most accurate of the translations.  It is very literal in vocabulary and word order with a reading level of 11.0.  I really like the Holman (HCSB) which is also an up-to-date, word-for word translation.  It combines accuracy, clarity, and readability with a reading level of 8.0.
Sometimes I will used the Amplified to help clarify passages for me.  Today there are two of them available:  the Amplified Classic and the new Amplified.  It helps to describe words and phrases with a reading level of 10.0.  You may have noticed that I often refer to the New Living Translation.  I use this most often for devotional reading.  I read it when I want to just sit back, relax, and digest some of God’s Word and not for a serious study.  Tyndale states that it is “the closest cultural equivalent of the message expressed by the original language text.”  It has a reading level of 6.0.
Two more that I like to read for devotional reading are the New Testament in Modern English, translated by J.B. Phillips, and William Barclay’s translation.  These can be used for devotional reading or to help support a study of the New Testament.
There are so many more out there and I’m sure that some of you reading this used the New International Version and the 1978 version is very good.  Be careful of newer editions for the publishers have become caught up with contemporary thought and changes.  It has a reading level of 7.0.  The New King James Version is very good also.  I use it often go to it rather than the King James.  The reading level is 9.0.
Have I missed your favorite?  Sorry, but I would like to ask, why do you read the version you read?  Be careful in your reading that you do not use God’s Word, but that God’s Word uses you.  But let me get one thing straight!  The most important thing is for you to read God’s Word.  Inhale it, digest it, dissect it, get it deep into your mind and your soul.  It is the nourishment that your soul needs to get through each day.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
–Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

When you are truly joyful, you are wound up by some mighty dynamic power; you feel strong, you are lifted up above yourself, you are ready to meet every enemy from every direction and quarter; you smile in the face of them all; you say, ‘I defy them, they can never rob me of it.’  The joy of the Lord is your strength; it is a strong power, a mighty robust thing.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“The easy way is always mined.”
–U.S. Army saying

Now I like to be comfortable, but I think at times we may have gone too far in producing it.  I hear all the time that people want to have fun, to be happy, and not worry about life.  But as I’ve stated here before, “Life is not a picnic.”  Yet we are admonished to worship God in “spirit and in truth.”  It is not to be reserved for inside a church building or a particular service.  The word “truth” means “reality.”  We are to worship in reality; that means our lifestyle should be one of worship and that is true if we really believe that the person is the “temple of the Holy Spirit.”
But we have “become professionals at creating comfortable, uplifting, even pleasurable environments,” not for our life, but for our worship.  How many of us could worship as Job did, when he lost everything?  How many of us could worship when homes are taken away?  Do we really depend upon a power that is beyond ourselves when things run amuck?   We tend to make people feel good for the moment; put a bandaid on their hurts rather than dig out the cancer.  Just forget about your struggles and problems; or claim they do know longer exist.  The reality of the situation is that they are still there.
I like what Gary Wilkerson wrote, “God’s presence is meant to bring light to our eyes.  It shows us the difference between the wheat and the chaff in our lives.  That’s why God’s Word is called a refining fire:  It purifies.  It’s also called a sword, an instrument that pierces and cuts.  These tools are used to separate things, dividing the pure from the impure.”
We prefer, no, we demand comfort; we demand pleasure.  Look at the worship in many churches.  It is “I” centered.  I do this, I do that, I, I, I.  I recall that many years ago, I spoke on the error of the “Big I.”  Little did I realize that this would become the central commodity in many churches.  Preacher make me feel good; song leader make me feel good.  When we leave the service we want to be able to say, “I feel good.”  Go back to the idea that the believer is supposed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.  When you walk down the street, does His holiness go with you?  When you go into any store, restaurant, or place of amusement, is His holiness exuding from you?
           Ira Paine (thanks to a sermon by Gary Wilkerson for some thoughts)

“They say to the seers,’Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy the truth to us. Tell us flattering things. Prophesy illusions.'”
–Isaiah 30:10 (HCSB)

One thing I just do not understand.  I am told that it is to get people in the mood, and I wonder, “in the mood for what”?  Why are sanctuaries now darkened?  Churches I have been to over the past decade darken the sanctuary and I am told that it is to create and atmosphere.  Darkness creates what type of atmosphere?  And why, oh why, turn down the lights when people are called to the altar.  The altar itself represents fire for the sacrifice was to be lain there and burned.  Goodness friend, we should be moving from darkness into light.  Just read the words by R.E. Hudson.

          “Do you hear them coming, brother,–
           Thronging up the steeps of light,
           Clad in glorious shining garments,–
           Blood-washed, garments pure and white?”

We should be moving from the darkness into the light.  We are wearing shining garments, garments washed in the blood of Christ.  Have you ever wondered how being washed in the blood, cleanses and makes garments pure and white?  Hmmm, put away darkness, and listen to the stirring anthems.

          “Do you hear the stirring anthems
           Filling all the earth and sky,
           ‘Tis a grand, victorious army,
           Lift its banner up on high!”

Sorrow may loom over us from time to time.  Storms come, but they will pass.  Sin may come at us to destroy, but hang on, hang on, there is victory on the horizon.  We may be beaten down for the day, we may cringe at the sounds of the night.  But tomorrow, tomorrow promises blue skies, the storm will have passed and there will be victory. 

          “Never fear the clouds of sorrow,
           Never fear the storms of sin,–
           We shall triumph on the morrow,
           Even now our joys begin.”

Walk through this life with a praise that comes from the heart.  We do not conquer, never think that the victory is yours, but it is the Lord who is the conqueror.  It is He that conquers the sin that touches us.  It is He that conquers the storms and tells them to be silent.  It is He who gives us the victory; it is not of ourselves.  And then there will be that day; that glorious day when we will finally reign with Him.  There will be that day when there is true and complete victory.

          “Wave the banner, shout His praises,
           For our victory is nigh!
           We shall join our conqu’ring Savior,
           We shall reign with Him on high!

                    ‘Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
                    Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
                    ‘Tis a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle,
                    Washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

So if you have those days when you feel some pain, maybe some burning, perhaps it is the Lord simply doing some ironing.  The “Bride” will wear spotless clothes, and they will be starched with no wrinkles.

You’ve got to walk that lonesome valley
Well you gotta walk it by yourself
There ain’t nobody else gonna walk it for you
You gotta walk it by yourself.”
–unknown (maybe David Miller or Woody Guthrie)

“No hardship could seem too great, no trail too long, no mountain impassable when the vision was upon them.”
–Louis L’Amour

Where are you traveling friend?  Be careful of your trip and read the map and signs carefully.  When you come to a fork in the road or a crossroads, know which road you should be taking.  Do not play to chance.  Do not neglect your training or your planning.  Do not second-guess yourself.  Remember there is a road that may seem right, perhaps you should change your course, your direction, but that road can be dangerous and could lead to death (Proverbs 16:25).
Now to be honest, we go through life with the help of others.  Where would I be if my wife had not been by my side for almost 46 years?  Probably sitting, or laying in a ditch somewhere.  Where would I be if I had not had friends come along through the years?  They were helpers, encourages, supporters that helped me make it through tough and discouraging times.  Friends are there, sometimes only for a season, but when they are needed during that season all I had to do was seek them.
I have often wondered what happened to the great friendship of the Bible–David and Jonathan.  They were close friends, willing to die for each other.  It must have been a sad day when David had to flee because of the warning that came to him by Jonathan.  Wonder how many times each of them thought of the other in the days to come?  However, one thing is certain–they could not walk the other person’s road.  They each had a journey of their own.  Destiny?  Hmmm, maybe, but that is another subject all together.
Each person reading this is on their own journey.  People may aid you along the trail in one way or another, but they cannot do the walking for you.  The trip is yours and yours alone, except for the believer in Jesus Christ.  Then there is a person walking beside that can give aid, comfort, support, and guidance when it is needed.  The trail may be arduous, but do not quit, it is your trail.  Destiny?  Hmmm, maybe…Listen to the voice of the Spirit; He is your faithful Friend and Guide.

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”
–Amos 3:3